14 FROM THE GREEKS TO DARWIN 



creation' theory. The open dissenters were com- 

 paratively few and very guarded in the expres- 

 sion of their opinions because Evolution had 

 been branded as heresy. Young Darwin was 

 among the few who kept before his mind both 

 the special creation and evolution theories; he 

 met and successfully overcame the great tide of 

 adverse opinion — a conquest which Germany has 

 recognized by rechristening Evolution, Darwin- 

 ismus. Since 1858 more works upon Evolution 

 have appeared each year than in all the centuries 

 previous. 



In this more recent history we again trace the 

 rise and fall of certain ideas. Even our present 

 leaders of biologic thought have their remote 

 parallels in the past ; despite our present wealth 

 of facts, the impassable limitations of human ob- 

 servation and reason seem to confine us to uncon- 

 scious revivals of Greek conceptions. There are 

 many observers, but few who can strike out into 

 the absolutely virgin soil of novel suggestion. 



The special phases of evolution development 

 may accordingly be marked off in the following 

 manner : 



Greek Evolution: The Anticipation of Nature 

 640 B. C.-1600 A. D. 



The rise, dechne, revival, and final dechne of 

 the Greek natural history and Greek conception 



